Bartica talk show host in hot water
Owner pulls People’s Voice over ‘name calling’
Stabroek News
January 22, 2003
Bartica television host, Winston Miller says he is willing to apologise for any comments he may have made on his programme People’s Voice which was recently suspended by the station’s owner.
Owner of TTS Channel 5 in Bartica, Tarzie Ghanie, cited unprofessional conduct and poor content, as two of the reasons for the programme’s discontinuation.
Residents in the township have been calling for the programme’s return describing it as an avenue through which they could have aired their views. Miller told Stabroek News yesterday that comments made on a recent programme might have been misinterpreted but that he was willing to put this behind him for the greater good of the programme. It was in this vein that he has made a conscious decision to offer an apology to any viewer who might have been offended by the remarks. Miller had earlier said that his programme was pulled because of conduct which the owner described as vulgar. This was after he had made certain remarks concerning issues associated with persons from the community.
Ghanie told Stabroek News that he could not accommodate the programme since its moderator, Miller, had exhibited certain traits which he viewed as outside the programme’s intended purpose.
According to Ghanie, he was forced to “put the brakes” on the programme since it seemed to be heading down a path which he was not pleased with.
He said Miller was aware from the inception of the programme of his objections to things like politics and name-calling being part of the programme.
This, he elaborated, is even more critical now with the monitoring being undertaken by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting which was looking into the content of programmes.
Questioned on his willingness to resume the programme, Ghanie said that he has been considering offers from other persons to host a similar programme. He had also said that he didn’t intend to resume the programme with Miller as host.
Ghanie is of the view that a moderator should be one to regulate the views of contributors to ensure that they don’t step outside the bounds of reasonable comment.
According to the station’s owner, it is not that person’s duty to express his view or elaborate on any issue raised but rather if necessary offer measured input. (Oscar P. Clarke)
